Festival of Historic Tall Ships Coming to Galveston April 5-8

GALVESTON, Texas (February 28, 2018) -- For the first time in history, Tall Ships America will bring its Tall Ships Challenge series of races and port festivals to the Gulf of Mexico, starting with Galveston Island. The Tall Ships Galveston festival will make its debut April 5-8 with a fleet of visiting tall ships to Galveston’s historic waterfront.

This new event, produced by the Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) in partnership with Tall Ships America, will feature six historic vessels for four days of ship tours, sail-away excursions, music, food and other special events in a family friendly environment.

“This first-time event for the Gulf Coast will bring some of the most beautiful ships in the world to our port,” GHF Chief Executive Officer Dwayne Jones said. “It’s a rare opportunity to step aboard a tall ship and learn about maritime history firsthand.”

The festival will begin with an exciting Parade of Sail in the Gulf of Mexico along the seawall on the afternoon of Thursday, April 5. While in port, the ships will be open to the public for viewing, and many will feature dockside exhibits and interactions with crew. Galveston’s 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA – docked year-round at the Texas Seaport Museum at Pier 21– is participating in the event.

Each ship has its own educational program and mission, providing visitors with a wide array of experiences. In addition to touring the visiting ships, visitors will have the opportunity to embark on some of the ships for exhibition sails.

The Tall Ships Challenge is an annual series of races and festivals that rotates on a three-year cycle among the Atlantic Coast, Great Lakes, Pacific Coast, and Gulf Coast. This year, festivals will take place in Galveston, Pensacola, and New Orleans.

Tall Ships Galveston will be open from 2-4 p.m. April 5 and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily April 6-8 for ship tours, music, vendors and more with onboard tours available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

About Galveston Island
Galveston Island is a historic beach town located on the Gulf of Mexico just 50 miles from Houston. The island is best known as a vacation destination, offering 32 miles of beaches, a variety of family attractions, Texas’ premier cruise port and one of the largest and well-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country, including several National Historic Landmarks. Galveston Island is home to popular amusements such as, Moody Gardens and Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, as well as a variety of museums and recreational activities from surfing to birding. For more information on Galveston Island visit www.galveston.com or call 1-888-GAL-ISLE.